I just have a D40 and 18-25mm lens, but I need a better lens! I need something that has a really good zoom. Maybe not the best most expensive thing out there, but I do some shoots for friends(family pics, kids, engagements, etc.) and my 18-25mm isn't cutting it... Any help? What'd be good?

Ummm... 18-25? Do you mean 18-55? At any rate, what isn't good about it, and what is a "really good" zoom to you? As with any lens topic, the first question is always budget. You could look to the 18-70mm D70 kit lens, readily available used for <$300, and without a doubt one of the best kit lenses ever.

how bout a sigma [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-70-300mm-Motorized-Telephoto-Including/dp/B0016N17ES/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1238034491&sr=8-1"]70-300mm[/ame] or a [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-70-300mm-4-5-6G-Nikkor-Worldwide/dp/B00008B0Z6/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1238650479&sr=1-6"]nikkor 70-300mm (w/o VR though)[/ame]?

then get the new [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-35mm-AF-S-Digital-Cameras/dp/B001S2PPT0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1238650446&sr=1-1"]nikkor 35mm[/ame] ?